Wire-stretcher.



PATENTED DEC. 3,. 1907.

D. A. VANDEVORT. WIRE STRETGHER. APPLIOA'IIION FILED AUG.16, 1907.

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' A 7 atfoznq g DAVID A. VANDEVORT, OF SCOTTSBURG, INDIANA.

WIRE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed August 16, 1907. Serial No. 388.871-

To all whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID A. VANDEVORT, citizen of the United States, residing at Scottsburg, in the county of Scott and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Wire-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention is in the nature of an improved device for stretching woven wire fence and aims to provide a novel construction by means of which the required tension can be readily produced by a single operator.

The invention further contemplates th provision of a device of this character which is of simple and inexpensive construction and can bequickly set up in an operative position.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective view showing the fence stretching device applied. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the swivel connection between the threaded operating rod and the fence clamp. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the handle and ratchet.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters. I

Broadly s eaking the device comprises essentially a 0 amp designed to engage an end of the wire fence, a threaded operating rod having a swivel connection wlth the said clamp, and a block cooperating with the threaded rod to stretch the fence when the said rod is turned.

As shown on the drawings the fence engaging clamp designated at 1 comprises a pair of upright bars designed to receive the fence between them and held together by the bolts 2. These upright bars constituting the clamp 1 are loosely received between the two arms of a U-shaped clip 3 and are pivotally connected thereto by means of a pin 4. One end of the threaded operating bar 5 is reduced as indicated at 6 and passed loosely through an opening in the cross bar of the clip 3, the said reduced end 6 of the bar 5 being capped by a thimble 7 which prevents the bar from pulling away from the clip, but

to. The threaded portion of the. operating bar 5 is received within a block 8 which is designed to be secured to some .rigid support such as the post 9. Projecting from the block 8 is a Ushaped yoke 10 the two arms of which are located upon opposite sides of the bar 5, the end of the yoke being contracted at 11 and having a tie member 12 applied thereto by means of which the yoke is connected to the post 9. Fast on the bar 5, is a ratchet wheel 13, and also loosely mounted on the bar 5, are the bifurcated arms 13" of an operating lever 14, carrying a pivoted pawl 15. The pawl is so positioned that it may be turned on its pivot to engage the teeth of the ratchet on either side of a medial line drawn through. the center of the bar. Obviously by positioning the pawl and operating the handle the bar may be turned to tighten or relax the tension of the fence.

In the operation of the device the end of the fence is engaged by the clamp 1 and the yoke 10 connected 'to some rigid support such as the post 9. The operating bar 5 is then rotated through the medium of the handle 14 and the clamp 1 thereby drawn toward the post 9 in such a manner as to stretch the fence and produce the required tension therein. Particular attention is directed to the fact that with this construction which embodies the threaded operating rod 5 a single person can stretch the wire and produce a comparatively great tension therein.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of, a fence engaging clamp, a clip loosely connected to the fence engaging clamp, a threaded operating rod having a swivel connection with the before mentioned clip, a block cooperating with the threaded operating rod, a U-shaped yoke projecting from the block and receiving the operating rod between the arms of the, same, a tie member cooperating with the yoke to hold the block in position, and means for turning the operating rod. r

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fenceengaging clamp, a clip loosely connected to the fence engaging clamp, a threaded operating rod having a swivel connection with the before mentioned clip, a block cooperating with the threaded operating rod, means for holding the block in permits it to rotate freely with respect therel position, a ratchet wheel fast upon the threaded operating rod, an operating lever loosely mounted upon the operating rod, and a reversible pawl carried by the operating lever, the said pawl being adapted to cooperate with the ratchet wheel to turn the operating rod in either direction.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a fence engaging clamp, a U-shaped clip loosely connected to the fence engaging .clamp, a threaded operating rod having a swivel connection with the said clip, a block cooperating with the threaded operating rod, a Ushaped yoke projecting from the block and receiving the operating rod between the arms of the same, the said yoke serving as a means for holding the block in position, a ratchet wheel fast upon the operating rod, a lever pivotally mounted upon the operating rod, and a pawl mounted upon the lever and cooperating with the ratchet wheel to rotate theoperatin rod.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DAVID A. VANDEVORT. 

